Library

Welcome to the largest private library of French language media in the Midwest! Members of the Alliance Française de Chicago can borrow from our dynamic collection of over 18,000 items (including books, films, magazines, audiobooks, and more) for all ages.

Join us for author talks, literary events, and more!

Library Catalog Membership

Hours

We’re open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., which includes Curbside Service.

To use Curbside Service, email us with your selections by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, then stop by our Dearborn entrance on Saturday to pick up your materials!

OR fill out this questionnaire (click here) about your interests to receive a hand-chosen reading package from our staff! Stop by the Alliance whenever is most convenient for you to pick up your curated collection.

While members have borrowing privileges on-site and on our eLibrary, the Culturethèque, non-members can still peruse and enjoy our materials on-site during open hours.

Culturetheque

In early January 2024, the Institut Français will launch a revamped Culturetheque site. New registrations are currently paused. User accounts that expire after December 31, 2023, retain access. A member may need to create a new account after the transition is complete. Members will log in with their email and password. Thank you for your patience during this time of transition!

Questions? Contact the library at library@af-chicago.org

BOOK DONATIONS / LES DONS DE LIVRES

Which books do we accept?

Maximum 20 books, like-new, and published after 2018
In French by French and Francophone authors
Also, in English on French topics
Especially needed for children and adolescents
Exceptions made for rare and special items

We are not able to accept random drop-offs. Thank you for your understanding.

Quels livres acceptons-nous ?

L’autorisation est requise. Contactez-nous à library@af-chicago.org.

Maximum 20 livres, comme neufs, et publiés après 2018
En français d’auteurs françis ou francophones
Aussi en anglais au sujet de la France et la francophonie
Besoin particular pour enfants et adolescents
Des exceptions sont possibles pour des choses peu communes

Nous ne pouvons accepter des livres déposés en passant. Merci de votre compréhension.

How to find items in our Library

Looking for your next (or first-ever!) French book, magazine, or movie? Here are a few different ways to find items in our library:

On-site

You can peruse our extensive library, or médiathèque, on-site during open hours. Our staff can help you find what you’re looking for — and they know all the best hidden gems to check out!

Consult the virtual catalog

Visit our virtual library catalog to select items, then send us the titles and call numbers at library@af-chicago.org. We’ll set your selections aside for you to pick up either on-site or using Curbside Pickup.

Librarian recommendations

So many choices, let us help! Fill out this questionnaire (click here) about your reading preferences and your level of French and we will curate a personalized package for you to pick up at your leisure.

Les Détails

: Members can sign up for a library account on-site at our lending desk or by emailing us at library@af-chicago.org.
How to use Culturethèque:
Set up your account here, (at s’inscrire) or contact us for help!
Validate your account by clicking the confirmation link sent to your email.
: Prefer not to come into the library? No worries! We offer Curbside Service every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at our entrance, located at 810 N. Dearborn St.
Simply email us with your selections by 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before Curbside Service. À bientôt !
: You can return items to the Library or leave them with the first floor receptionist.
: All items can now be checked out for 30 days and renewed twice.
If you need to renew an item, please email us or call (312) 337-5473 and provide your name and the selections you’d like to renew.

Francophone Staff Selections

Looking for recommendations from our Library staff? Take a look at these great selections from around the Francophone world!